School Board Oks Counseling For `Peace`

April 20, 1985|By William Recktenwald.

The Chicago Board of Education and the national interfaith organization Clergy and Laity Concerned have reached an agreement that will allow public high school students to receive counseling on alternatives to military service.

Under the program, announced Thursday at a press conference in the interfaith organization`s office, 173 W. Madison St., the organization and military recruiters will be required to submit lists of counselors and recruiters to the school board.

They also will have to submit pamphlets and literature to the school superintendent for review.

The agreement is an outgrowth of a suit filed against the school board two years ago by the interfaith organization and others seeking access similar to that given military recruiters.

In January, 1984, U.S. District Judge George Leighton ruled that the organization should be allowed to counsel students, but the school board appealed, delaying implementation of the judge`s order. The board withdrew the appeal in November and agreed to negotiate.

``Now the voice of peace will be heard along with the voice of war in the halls of our schools,`` said Ron Freund, executive director of the organization`s Chicago chapter.